The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1887-12-08
THE HARPER TRIAL.
Eeur Days Proceedings In This
Famous Case.
wnshirs says Harper Dealt In Chicago
wheat-BrigEs swim, President Of the
Fidelity Bank. and others, Examined.

vice prcsiuent OF the tate Fidelity National
Bank OF Cincinnati, was this mo ming placed
on trial in the Circuit Court Of the United States
for the Southern District OF Ohio. Judges Jack
son and Sage presiding. charged with criminal
violation OF almost every section OF the u s.
Revised Statutes for the government OF nation
nj banking institutions
The names OF the iurymen, upon whom so
great responsibility rests are Us follows:
Clnrlkson Butterworth, Wilmington, Clinton
County, z. D. Fisher, Madisonville, Hamilton
County; VIM Martindale, Xenia. Greene
County; RAYMOND Gee. New Richmond. Cler-
mont county; Edward Roberts, Harpersburg,
Warren Comfy; john Stevenson, Xenia,
Greene County; Clark Taylor Arabia Law
renee County; John b. Turner. Laurel. Cler-
mont County; Kiefer westlahe, Troy Miami
County; Silas Williamson, Bethany, Butler
County; Jeremiah Wenger, Dayton, Montgom-
cry County; VIM. Yingling. Hanging Rock
Lawrence County.
District Attorney Burnet made the statement
OF the case for the Government He suggested
that each OF the jurors be furnished with copy
OF the Indictment. which was done. Mr.. Burnett
then proceeded TO state what the Government
expects to prove. He began by reading section
BOD under which Harper was indicted. The de-
PENDANT is charged with the violation OF every
term OF this section.
The District Attorney said the two general
charges are misapplication and embczzlemenf.
They would further show other specific
charges. The various charges against Harper,
which have been published over and over again,
were referred TO by Mr.. Bnrnet. The nisap-
plication. he snid. covered quite a long period,
but referred particularly 10 the year 1857. He
claimed that Harper used Hopkins as tool
and WIS also aided by j. w. Hoyt.
The Government promised 10 prove that
Harper had discounted worthless paper OF the
Riverside Iron and Steel Works. an insolvent
concern; that he raised various large sums Of
money in criminal way. Mr.. Burnet reviewed
all the points IN the case In an elaborate way.
Major c. II. Blackburn, counsel tor Harper
made the statement for the defense. Wi,nout
the submission OF single point II is manifest
that tho matter presents TN intricate CONNER
cial account. They sould come to the same
conclusion as himself that IL would be better TO
base tho matter on the testimony that may be
produced. When allwas heard and all was pro-
dnced he felt that Edward L. Harper would not
be found guilty OF criminal violation Of the
banking laws OF the United States.
CINCINNATI. Nov. 30.--The trial OF f. L. Har
per Is rushing along with astonishing rapidity
Instead of taking four weeks to settle his fate
itnow seems that the case win go to the jury in
ten days.
C.J. Kershaw, the Chicago broker who was
ruined by the wheat deal, was next called. He
testified that he had been q grain merchant for
thirty-fve years. The witness identified three
checks and said they bore the Endorsement OF
his Arm; also identified letters OF advice: We
drew a draft on the Fidelity hank for these
checks and got the money. Received remit
tances from ]. w. Wiltshire; met Messrs. Hoyt,
Wiltshire. Dewar, Irwin. Swift and perhaps one
or two others at American Exchange National
Bank the 18th OF last June; at that meeting re-
ceiyed two drafts from Mr.. Wiltshire and
Mr.. Hoyt. They were for 100000 each.
They went TO my credit in the American
Exchange National Bank The amount of wheat
bought was e0000.00l, some on margin, the rest
at option. Tho wheat was never delivered TO
Wiltshire, Eckert & Co. Required 3 per cent
margin. Think the money received from VIII
shire, Eclzert s Co. came in drafts or credits
issued from the Fidelity National Bank Mr..
Kershaw gave in detail from the statement of
account the drafts which had been drawn on
Wiltshire, Eckert & Co. The prosecution OF.
fered in evidence draft for 500 0O0, dated April
10. 1887, on the First National Bank OF New York
Cross-examined An the accounts opened with
the bank was ON account OF Wiltshire. Eckert &
Co. and Hoyt; had no account with them on
margins or wheat. Never met Mr.. Harper-had
no correspondence with him whatever. Re-
direct: The drafts drew were always paid
The Government offered In evidence the letter
Of advice for s20),0OO dated June a. 1887, and
the drafts for 100000 each. gave the letter ana
druft 10 the American Exchange Bank The
balance OF the money In this bank was charged
up in losses against us. After the money was
deposited some Of our checks were dishonored
A. W. Green. of Irwin, Green & Co, grain
brokers' Of Chicago, was the next witness. Our
firm had business with J. w. Hoyt, and made
purchases OF wheat for him. Can't say how
much except that we had 7,09),0Ol bushels on
hand June q. May 81 we had the largest
amount. Hoyt gave drafts as security for part
payment and arranged for remainder The
margins went as high as lie, but was variable.
We collected the amount designed by letters OF
advice BY draft from time TO time as we needed
the money. We collected all the amount indi
Gated in the letter Of advice except the last
SD0.O00 We got $4,000 of that MIR. Green
referred 10 his account with the Fidelity Ma
tionnl Bank, which was offered in evidence.
The defense objected because OF a mem
orandum at tho bottom, but this was
scratched OF. The account showed that he
had deposited with the Fidelity s79s, 34s71, and
they drew s4gi ,372si. The Hoyt account with
Irwin, Green Co. was also offered by the Gov
eminent. Cross-examined:. Had no transac-
tions with the Fidelity, as such: they were all
with Mr.. Hoyt; don't know Mr.. Harper
Joseph W. Wiltshire sworn: Am broker in
grain AID provisions. Know T.. L. Harper. Mr..
Wiltshire identified bundle OF checks signed by
Wiltshire. Ecllert & Co. and ]. W. Wiltshire g.
Co. check dated October r. 1886 First Ma.
tional Bank to J. W. Wiltshire or order, si1,5D0.
Wiltshire. Eckert G. Co., Endorsed by J. w. Will
shire was offered In evidence. Mr.. Wiltshire
testified that this check was used in the Fidel-
ity Bank and was placed either to the credit OF
J. w. Wiltshire or Wiltshire, Eckert & Co. Was
not presented to the bank on which It was
drawn. Was placed TO our credit by
direction OF +. L. Harper. Bundles OF
checks handed TO witness and examined.
They tthe checlzs) were used in the way OF de-
posit in the Fidelity. think in every case. as
far as can recall, they were deposited to Chi
cngo brokers, our correspondents In Chicago,
and taken out by them. presume. They were
received as deposits by Mr.. Harpers instruc-
tons. / never deposited one without his direc-
ton. The deposits were for margins on wheat
on Chicago. Q. What do you mean by thats A.
We had bought wheat for Mr.. Harper on his
order. and our Chicago correspondents re-
quircd additional margin. we deposited In the
Fidelity checks to the credit OF their bank
IN Chicago. The credit was entered upon
bank book. @. Then your accounts on the books
OF the Fidelity would be credited by the
amounts OF these checks? A. Yes, sir. @. How
did you use the credti A. In nearly every case
these amounts were deposited to the credit Of
some Chicago house. deposited in the Fidelity.
There may have been one or two exceptions
where tho deposits xere in other than the FL
deity, but CAL not now recall what the excep-
tons were where we gave a certi-
fed check on the Fidelity, certified
by the Fidelity and deposited in some
other bank. think that was done once
or twice. @. What relation did the amount
which you had in the Fidelity bear TO the
amount OF checksf A. Wen, there never was
That amount there at all. The understanding
was when we gave these checks, that they
were 10 be taken care OF by Mr.. Harper, and not
20 to the bank. @. Upon whose suggestion was
the business conducted in that ways A. On Mr.. !
Harpef's suggestion. The examination went
on ut some length which was very damaging 70
Mr.. Harpers case
cINcISNAII. Dec. 1-Joseph Wiltshire was
put through rigid crossexamination to-day by
Major Blackburn. lie testifcd that the ar /
rnngement regarding the dcposirc OF those checks
post books up 10 last transaction because we |
could no get Accommodates from our Chicago |
correspor tents kept account with Z. L. Har- |
per as Mathews & Co; was Instructed to do so
by Mr.. Harper. He gave orders TO witness TO
f4,o f.,al,ofc. fharo limitation